Bodenpress: The Poetics of Print

Connections:  screen print 30x30cm
©Jeannelise Edelsten 2020

The fourteen Bodenpress artists whose work will be shown in The Poetics of Print exhibition have taken their inspiration from John Betjeman’s poetry, particularly ‘Metroland’.  These nostalgic poems which have a sense of humour and a serious undertone reflect travel and life along the Metropolitan line, and have been interpreted in a contemporary and vibrant way by the artists.

Link Up: screen print 30x30cm ©Helen Boden 2020

Metroland – the area reached by the Metropolitan Line which connects the ‘smoke’ to the ‘suburbs’ – is where most of the artists hail from.  Living and working in Buckinghamshire they have been exhibiting together for over 10 years.  Bodenpress is a small printmaking studio in Chesham where artists create works using traditional and modern methods.

This group exhibition showcases a variety of printmaking techniques such as Polymer etching, Linocut, Collagraph, Drypoint, Monotype and Screenprint.  The work is varied in style, some figurative, some architectural, and each artist uses Betjeman’s poems to create their compositions with great variety and colour.  All the work is uniform in size with each artist’s interpretations showing in similar white frames for a pleasing exhibition layout.

Wealdstone turned to Waves; reduction Linocut 30x30cm ©Marian Carter 2020

Printmaking is an intriguing art form, with many techniques and processes used to create original fine art prints.  Some are unique, others are part of a small limited edition, and all are hand inked. These are for sale along with a catalogue that has been produced for the exhibition.

The artists have exhibited together in various galleries and art spaces, including The Bucks County Museum in Aylesbury, and have had works in national print shows such as the Bankside Gallery, Mall Gallery and at The Royal Academy in London.  The Highgate Gallery is an ideal space for The Poetics of Print, as the area has an important connection to Betjeman where he lived and went to school as a young boy.

Closed for Maintenance; polymer etching and monotype 30x30cm ©Karen Martin 2020

For further information contact Helen or to see more Bodenpress literary work visit Bodenpress website